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Pharrell
Pharrell performing at Roots Picnic 2017. Photos by Averie Cole for Okayplayer
Photo Credit: Averie Cole for Okayplayer

Pharrell Threatens to Sue Donald Trump Over Use of His Song "Happy" at Rallies

Trump played "Happy" at a rally hours after the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre.

Pharrell's 2013 hit was played at a Trump rally over the weekend just hours after a gunman killed 11 people at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

According to CNN, the musician's attorney Howard King sent out a cease and desist letter Monday calling on the President to stop playing the song "Happy" during his events. King claims Trump's use of the song without consent constitutes copyright and trademark infringement.

"On the day of the mass murder of 11 human beings at the hands of a deranged 'nationalist,' you played his song 'Happy' to a crowd at a political event in Indiana," King wrote in the letter. "There was nothing 'happy' about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose."

READPrince's Estate Demands Trump Ceases to Use His Music at Rallies

The letter continues with King writing, "Pharrell has not, and will not, grant you permission to publicly perform or otherwise broadcast or disseminate any of his music."

Trump has received cease and desist letters from a musicians more than once. Steven Tyler has condemned Trump's use of Aerosmith's music at his events. Similar complaints were made by Prince's estate, R.E.M., and Queen.